04/25/24
April 23, 2017
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Rumple leads the NHL Pick 'Em with 7 points and several other players are at 5.
posted by rcade at 02:55 PM on April 23, 2017
A college student was killed by a hammer throw at a track and field event.
I saw this report earlier. What a shame for something like this to happen, especially for someone who was really just beginning his adult life. It shows the value of unceasing attention to what is going on around you. I have often thought about someone getting clocked by a batted ball when I am on the field umpiring. Some of the fields have little or no protection for people in the bleachers along the sidelines. At the level at which I work, the kids generally don't hit the ball all that hard, but if you move up to high school varsity, played on the same field that the middle school uses, you have a real hazard. The people watching the game are often young, non-athletes (girlfriends, little sisters, moms, little brothers) who are busy chatting, working their mobile 'phones, and doing anything except pay attention to the action on the field. Maybe an accident like this will call attention to the hazards that exist for those watching or working at sporting events, and will spur those in charge of the facilities or the events to improve safety.
posted by Howard_T at 05:37 PM on April 23, 2017
The Leafs season ended like most of their games did early on...a blown third period lead and a loss in extra time.
That said, I ain't even mad.
I didn't think they'd make the playoffs.
I didn't (realistically, despite my bravado in the NHL pick-em) think they'd be all that competitive against the MUCH better Capitals.
To get the series to six games, and to play FIVE of them in overtime? That's crazy.
The best part is that when the Leafs were leaving the ice Auston Matthews had an angry look on his face. He wasn't content with just getting there. He wants to win.
Given how Matthews, Nylander, Kapenen, Andersen, and Kadri played this series, I like their chances next year.
posted by grum@work at 10:22 PM on April 23, 2017
Oh, and if the Capitals play like this against the Penguins, Pittsburgh is going to stomp them pretty hard.
posted by grum@work at 10:27 PM on April 23, 2017
You gotta be happy after that final Matthews goal. His hands are incredibly fast.
posted by rcade at 08:40 AM on April 24, 2017
Leafs are really coming along. The puck just seems to find Matthews, he's always in the right place offensively. Gardiner looks like a legit #1 D-man and Anderson is steady in net. Kadri's line did a solid job against tough competition. He personally needs more work on managing his emotions in key situations (avoiding dumb penalties and plays) but has come a long way from when he entered the league. I didn't notice Nylander as much in this series but in the handful of Leafs games I did watch during the regular season he was their best player both ends of the ice. Throw in other young players who will continue to develop like Marner and Zaitsev and the Leafs look to be only a few pieces away from being a legitimate cup contender.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:15 AM on April 24, 2017
You gotta be happy after that final Matthews goal. His hands are incredibly fast.
I think three of his goals were the "quick reaction" type, where the puck was lying there and he was able to shoot/flip/slide it into the net before anyone else could react.
I was skeptical before the World Cup on just HOW good Matthews really was, but I'm convinced. He's the real deal and could be the start of something big in Toronto (like what happened in Chicago).
posted by grum@work at 05:18 PM on April 24, 2017
People that have gone to Leafs/Raptors games since the ACC was built say it has NEVER been louder than when this happened:
*sigh*
Can't wait until October...
posted by grum@work at 11:31 AM on April 25, 2017
A college student was killed by a hammer throw at a track and field event.